CHÂTEAU RAUZAN SÉGLA 2014

Château  Rauzan-Ségla 2014

“The deep garnet colored 2014 Rauzan-Ségla reveals an open-knit, expressive nose of potpourri, unsmoked cigars, spice box and red loam with a core of plum preserves, blackcurrant jelly and bay leaves plus a touch of garrigue. Medium to full-bodied with compelling earthy layers and a real savoriness in the mouth, it has firm, chunky tannins and bold freshness, finishing on a lingering mineral note. The blend this year is 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, harvested between September 22nd and October 16th, at an average yield of 37 hectoliters per hectare. It was aged for 18 months in French oak, 60% new. The alcohol is 13.5%.” – 93/100, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

VARIETIES: 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc
REGION: France / Bordeaux / Médoc / Margaux
AGEING: Aged for 18 months in French oak, 60% new
SERVE: Serve at 16 – 18ºC
FITS TO: Pairs exceptionally well with rich and flavorful dishes such as beef, lamb, or game, as well as aged cheeses like Gouda or Comté
CRITICS SCORES: 95/JS, 94/WE, 93/JD, 93/RP, 92/WS
VIVINO: Average 4.2 ★★★★✰

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2ᵉ Grand Cru Classé – 1855, Margaux Appellation | Range | Château  Rauzan-Ségla 2014

After a very wet and mild winter, without any significant cold spells, spring was «normal»: May was rather cool and June was quite warm, so flowering happened on the usual dates, and under very favourable conditions; it was therefore very quick and homogenous, contrary to the previous year. July didn’t bring us any great surprises, but August was particularly cool, without doubt one of the coldest we have seen in recent times. These low temperatures made it difficult for the grapes to change colour, which took a long time. Fortunately, it didn’t rain much, but in neither July nor August did we have a really dry spell. As it often happens in Bordeaux, at the end of August anything was still possible; a prospect of a good vintage as well as of a mediocre one…

The 52-hectare Margaux vineyard has increased in size over the years. Most notably in 2008, when they purchased 8.5 hectares from Chateau de La Bourgade. 52 hectares on deep fine gravel with clay at different layers planted to 6600-10000 vines per hectare. Plantings comprise 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. Green harvest and leaf thinning. Grapes entirely hand-picked into twenty kilo boxes and then sorted on a vibrating table at the cellar. Grapes are de-stemmed without crushing.

The wine is aged in approximately 50-60% new oak, medium toast from a variety of coopers, in French oak. During barrel maturation, the barriques are topped twice weekly, and then racked every three months. Egg white fining, no filtration. 10,000 cases of the Grand Vin produced and 10,000 cases of the second wine Ségla are made.